Employee Bios

American Investigative Services is proud of our skilled and experienced personnel and investigators. Please contact us at 800.287.6060 to learn more or to hire a specific investigator for your needs today.

Jay Groob

President

Jay Groob, President of American Investigative Services, is considered one of the foremost authorities on investigative techniques in the Northeast. He has provided testimony in both Federal and State Courts on drug and homicide cases, and has been classified as an expert in the field of auto fraud investigation.

Mr. Groob is a graduate of Northeastern University's College of Criminal Justice, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude. He has been a guest speaker at numerous conferences and seminars, and a lecturer at Boston School of Law and the Criminal Section of the Boston Bar Association.

Mr. Groob has recently retired as Chairman of the Council of International Investigators, an elite organization of private investigators that includes officers from Scotland Yard, the FBI, and Interpol. In recognition of his many years of experience and dedication in the field of investigative services, Mr. Groob received the Council's International Investigator of the Year Award. He was also honored for promoting international investigations and global security at the 30th Anniversary celebration of the Security Association of Singapore.

Mr. Groob is a long-standing member of NALI, INTELLENET NCISS, LPDAM, and IAATI, and is licensed in Massachusetts, New York and New Hampshire

Mr. Groob is also a contributing author of "Corporate Investigations Second Edition," an investigative textbook covering the broad range of corporate investigations. Calling upon his years of experience, Mr. Groob authored Chapter 30, sharing his investigative techniques and strategies for conducting both simple and complex Background Investigations.

Mary Ellen McMahon

Research Director

One of our most valued employees for over 12 years, Ms. McMahon has extensive experience in conducting pre-employment, background and asset investigations, which, combined with her exceptional client relations skills, has propelled her to her current position as Research Director. Overseeing a staff of field investigators, Ms. McMahon ensures that accurate results are obtained through in-person research conducted at virtually every courthouse in the Commonwealth. In addition, her considerable skill in Internet and proprietary database research has proved invaluable to AIS and its clientele. After many years of dedicated service to AIS, Ms. McMahon has recently earned her own Massachusetts Private Investigator's License.

Eli Whitney

Executive Administrator

Eli Whitney has been a valued member of the AIS team since 1996, after over twenty years' experience as a legal administrator. Whether analyzing documentary evidence in criminal defense matters or conducting exhaustive due diligence for corporate investigations, Eli's strong work ethic leaves no stone unturned. Extremely organized and analytical, her unique perspective has been instrumental in developing investigative strategies for a wide variety of clients and presenting our findings in a manner tailored to the client's specific needs. Also adept at undercover assignments, Eli has successfully obtained critical evidence in a number of challenging cases.

Rich Kuong

Senior Staff Investigator and Executive Protection Specialist

Rich Kuong, comes to us with over 25 years operational, managerial, training, investigative and security experience from the military, corporate, law enforcement and private security disciplines. Mr. Kuong has also been a crisis response, tactical consultant and active shooter instructor for law enforcement and maritime security agencies since 2002. He has worked with a state police special operations maritime unit on anti-terrorism and developed a training program to assist them to address this concern.

As a retired Major from the United States Marine Corps Reserve, ("America's 911"), Mr. Kuong held positions of increasing responsibility which included commanding 6 platoons, a reinforced infantry company of 230 Marines, a Legal Officer overseeing the legal support for two squadrons and one air defense battery, and an Assistant Operations Officer of a 1,000 man infantry battalion. As all Marines are Marines for life, Mr. Kuong brings to AIS many lessons-learned and select operational methodologies and techniques that have been adapted for use within the special event security and executive protection endeavors.

During a brief stint in law enforcement, Mr. Kuong was recognized four times by his police department, once for community service, once for saving a family during a house fire, once for saving a drowning, elderly woman who was swept into the ocean during a storm at 2 AM, and once for valor displayed during an armed domestic.

Mr. Kuong has been a detail leader or member for numerous executive protection details and private security functions that have included working alongside federal agents, and protecting royal princes and princesses, celebrities, politicians, corporate executives and public figures. He has been involved with special event functions overseeing the safety and security of up to 5,000 attendees. He was also a high threat teammember of a force protection security detail that secured Children's Hospital, New Orleans, during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Prior to AIS, Mr. Kuong's investigative experience extended back to his time in the Marine Corps where he conducted or supervised Judge Advocate General investigations and investigations leading to courts-martial's; as a corporate manager investigating various workplace accidents, employee incidents, labor disputes and environmental violations; and conducting investigations within the private security industry.

Mr. Kuong holds a BS in Business Administration from Drexel University, Philadelphia, and a MBA from Pennsylvania State University. He has also been a professionally published author since 1989.

Paul Toomey

Senior Staff Investigator

Paul Toomey brings over two decades of investigative reporting experience to AIS, and was the producer of the I-Team at WBZ-TV, the CBS affiliate in Boston, for 18 years. Before joining WBZ, Paul was producer for the Channel 7 Newsbreakers investigative unit in Boston. Throughout his career, Paul has been instrumental in exposing cases of public corruption, government waste, medical malpractice, and healthcare abuse, as well as consumer, insurance, bankruptcy, charity and Worker’s Compensation fraud.

Mr. Toomey has received numerous career awards, including local Emmys and Associated Press citations, and recently received the Silver Circle award from the New England Chapter of the National Television Academy for over 25 years of contributions to the television industry. In 1996 he received a Boston Magazine, Best Report award.

With extensive experience as a reporter, editor, producer, and assignments manager for both broadcast and print media, Paul is a uniquely qualified addition to the AIS roster. He is a graduate of Northeastern University and was trained in computer assisted reporting as a member of the National Investigative Reporters and Editors organization.

Charles Haskell

Senior Staff Investigator

Mr. Haskell joined AIS in 2005, bringing 15 years of investigative experience and an impressive background in testifying before the State of Massachusetts HRD Workers Compensation Section, several Divisions of Unemployment, and the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents. His testimony has been instrumental in resolving a number of domestic issues in District Court jurisdictions as well.

Throughout the years, Mr. Haskell has cultivated sources and developed extensive knowledge of the South Shore area, enabling him to pursue avenues of investigation not readily accessible through ordinary investigative techniques, and has personally conducted field investigations throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He is a member in good standing of the Licensed Private Detectives Association of Massachusetts, and a most welcome addition to the AIS team.

Jerry Palace

Vice President NY Office

Jerry Palace is a retired New York City Police Detective. Starting as a beat cop in New York’s notorious South Bronx, he then climbed the ranks to the anti-crime unit, and soon became a crime scene investigator. From there, enjoying his career as a seasoned cop, Jerry moved into the Narcotics Division responsible for putting away his fair share of major drug dealers. Never being one to turn down a challenge Jerry took his street expertise, and moved on to The Bronx Robbery Squad, investigating robbery, and murder cases that included the arrest, and convictions of New York’s most brazen crime figures. Jerry’s career has touched all areas of modern crime fighting along with a solid street wise investigative skill. Throughout his career as a New York City Police Detective, Jerry has received his share of Police Commendations.

Tom Duno

New York Office

Biography coming soon

Reuven Kahane

Associate Director

Biography coming soon

William Kelley

William H. Kelley, Jr. served with distinction in the Boston Police Department for 37 years, half that time as Detective Sergeant with more than 50 officers under his command. He was an integral member of Boston Police Department's specialized units, including auto theft, sting operations, homicide and drug investigations. He commanded the Missing Persons and Warrant divisions of the BPD, and was responsible for updating the department's identification records.

Under retired Boston Police Commander Ed McNeley, who was head of security for the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004, Mr. Kelley commanded the equipment security division throughout the course of the convention. In addition, Mr. Kelley held a high-level security position during the Biotech convention held in Boston in 2000.

During his service with the BPD, Mr. Kelley worked closely with ATF officials conducting a major arson investigation in the 1980's involving over 300 fires. As a result of his exemplary work on that assignment, Mr. Kelley was one of only four recipients outside the ATF to be honored with their highest award for outstanding achievement.

Since retiring from active duty, Mr. Kelley has been utilizing his extensive experience to provide security consultation, threat assessment, and executive and personal protection services in the private sector. He has been a valued employee of American Investigative Services, Inc. for over ten years.